Electric switch.



H0 MbDEL.

PATENTED APR. 14, .1903.

T. COPE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6, 1902.

ATE

Fries.

TROY COPE, OF NEW WATERFORD, OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWlTCl-l.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,221, dated April14, 1903.

Application filed May 6,1902. Serial No. 106,173. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TROY OOPE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New Waterford, in the county of Oolumbiana andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Switches, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings. a

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inelectric switches, and relates particularly to an electric switchadapted to be employed in connection with electrically-operatedstreet-car systems, the main object of the invention being to providemeans whereby the motorman may readily throw the switch in the desireddirection without stopping the car or,in fact, materially checking thespeed of the latter.

It is a further object of my invention to materially simplify theconstruction of electrical switches of this nature by practicallydispensing with all mechanism other than a pair of magnets having theirarmature con nected direct to the switch-tongue, a pair of contactslocated in the bed of the track and in circuit with the magnets, adouble-point switch located on the car in convenient position for themotorman, and contact-blocks carried by the car for engagement with thecontacts located in the track to complete the circuit and operate theswitch-tongue when one or the other of the contact-blocks are placed incircuit by the motorman operating the double-point switch, all of whichconstruction will be hereinafter more specifically described, and thenparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and

' wherein like numerals of reference will be tive view of the armatureof the magnets, and Fig. tis a central transverse vertical sectionalview of the armature-guide. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a modifiedform of arrangement for the magnets and armature.

To put my invention into practice, I provide a pair of magnets 1 2,which. are arranged within a suitable casing 3, that is convenientlyplaced in the'road-bed of the track, and in practice will have asuitable cover. (Not shown in the drawings.) The magnet 1 carries anextension 5, projecting beyond the magnet, and the current is completedto this magnet 1 through contact-blocks to be hereinafter described.Connection of the circuit-wire. is made with the magnet 12 direct, andthis magnet also carries an extenson 6, projecting in the oppositedirection to the extension 5. The armature 7 in the presentillnstrationis substantially Z-shaped in form and is placed directlybetween the magnets 1 2, with its angular end 7" extending outwardly infront of the magnet 1 to be attracted thereby and its end 7 extendingoutwardly in the opposite direction in front of the magnet 2 at theopposite end of the latter. Although I have shown an armature ofsubstantially Z-shaped form, yet I do not wish to limit myself to thisform,as I may employ a pair of magnets placed end to end within thecasing, as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the magnets 7 7 are shown so placed,and

the armature 7 instead of being Z-shaped lies parallel with the magnetsand is connected to the switch-tongue in the same manner as the formshown in Fig. 1. In this form of construction I would also support thearmature in a hearing, as will be described hereinafter for thepreferred. The form end '7" of the armature carries an arm or rod 8,which extends through an opening provided therefor in the wall of thecasing 3, adjacent to the switch-tongue 9, and is pivotally connected tosaid tongue, as shown in Fig. 1. This armature is guided in its movementand held in proper position by means of a' guide, Fig. 4, consisting ofastandard 10, having a slot 11 to receive the armature, the latter beingheld therein by means of a small plate 12, secured to the top of thestandard by small screws 14.,

as shown, or other suitable means. The standard has asuitably-aperturedbase 15, by means of which it is bolted or otherwise secured to thebottom of the casing 3. In connection with these magnets as justdescribed I provide at any suitable point in the front of the car 16 atwo-point switch 17, in which 18 indicates the-one contact and19indicates the other contact. Circuit-wires 20 and 21 connect thesecontacts with the contact shoes or blocks 22 23, suitably suspend edbeneath the car. Mounted in the road-bed of the track is apairofcontacts 24 25, spaced an equal distance apart to the shoes 22 23, so asto be engaged by the latter. The contact 24 is connected by wire 26 tothe magnet 1 and the contact 25 is connected by wire 27 to the magnet 2.Connection is made by wire 28 from the double-point switch 17 to thetrolley-wire 29, which is supplied with current through the supply-line30.

31 indicates the connecting-wires between magnets 1 2 and the rails ofthe track.

The wires 26 27 in practice are insulated where they pass through thecasing 3 in order that the current may not pass to the latter.

In operation if the switch-tongue 9 is in the proper position when thecar approaches the track no operation will take place; but if it isdesired to throw the switch-tongue the operator moves the switch eitheronto contact 18 or 19, according to the direction in which it is desiredto move the switch-tongue, thus completing the circuit when the shoes orcontact-blocks 22 23 come in engagement with the contact 24 25 eitherthrough wire 26 27 and through magnet 1 or 2, according to whether theswitch is on contact 18 or .19. When the circuit is completed fromcontact 18 through wire 20, shoe or block 22, contact 24, wire 26 tomagnet 1, the core of magnet 1 and the extension 5 attract the armature7, and the latter in its movement throws the switch-point 9 over againstthe main rail, so as to pass the car onto the main track. When thecircuit is completed through wire 27 to magnet 2, the core of saidmagnet and the extension 6 will attract the armature 7, so as to openthe switch and allow the car to pass onto the side track.

It is thought that the construction and operation of the device will beapparent from the foregoing description, and in practice it will beobserved that various changes may be made in the details of constructionwithout departing from the general spirit of my inacross the ends of thesaid magnets, an arm secured to one end of the said armature and havingits outer end pivotally connected to the switch-tongue, and means forcompleting the circuit through the magnets for operating theswitch-tongue.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a pair of magnetsprovided with end extensions and arranged at one side of theswitch-tongue, and a pair of contacts arranged itrthe road-bed andelectrically connected to the said magnet, of an armature having aportion of its length arranged between the said magnets and extensions,and having one of its ends pivotally connected to the switchtongue, andmeans carried by the car for completing the circuit through the saidcontacts and magnets for operating the switch.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with a casing arranged in theroad-bed at one side of the switch-tongue, and a pair of magnetsarranged in the said casing, of a standard having a slotted upper end,said standard arranged between the said magnets, a horizontally-slidablearmature mounted in the said standard, said armature having its endsbent outwardly in opposite directions, and having one of its endspivotally connected to the switch-tongue, and means for energizing anddeenergizing the said magnets separately for operating theswitch-tongue, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a switch, of a casing located contiguous to theswitch, spaced electromagnets arranged side by side within the casingand comprising a plurality of electrically-connected magnets, openelectric circuits connected with each magnet, means mounted on a car forseparately closing the circuits, an actuating-rod attached to the switchand extending between the magnets, and armatures secured to the rod andprojecting from opposite sides of the same, said armatures coactingrespectively with the magnets.

5. The combination with a switch, of separate electromagnets arrangedside by side and having their active portions arranged at opposite ends,means for separately energizing said magnets, separate armaturescoacting with the magnets, and means connecting the armatures and theswitch.

6. 'The combination with a switch, of separate electromagnets arrangedside by side and having the active portions of their cores arranged atopposite ends, means for separately energizing said magnets, separatearmatures coacting with the magnets, and a common connection between thearmatures and the switch.

7. The combination with a switch, of an actuating-rod pivotally attachedto the switch,

and having the active portions of their cores arranged at opposite ends,means for sepaseparate electromagnets arranged side by side ratelyenergizing the magnets, and separate armatures fastened to the rod andcoacting with the magnets.

8. The combination with a switch, of horizontallydisposedelect-romagnets arranged side by side, means for separately energizingthe magnets, a horizontal actuating-rod attached to the switch andextending longitudinally of and between the magnets, and armaturesconnected to opposite sides of the TO actuating-rod and coactingrespectiveily with the opposite ends of the magnets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

TROY COPE. Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, E. E. POTTER.

